RICCARTON HORSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 7

RICCARTON HORSES

SCHOOLING BESUMED TRANSFER OF MUNGATOON TRENCH FIGHT NOT TO RACE [BT TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday With the prospect that there will soon be a largo number of horses in preparation for jumping races, the schooling jumps at Riccarton have been refurnished. The brush fences on the steeplechase track have been put in order, as several trainers will require them early to get horses ready for the Rivqrton meeting held! at Easter. When the Canterbury Jockey Club put brush hurdle races on its programmes, two obstacles of this type were erected on some spare ground in the straight and all the schooling over brush has been done there. This arrangement did not give full satisfaction to trainers; now the four hurdles on the schooling track have been brushed and horses here being prepared for jumping races at the summer and autumn meetings will have improved facilities. These obstacles were used for the first time to-day, when four horses were out. Four Horses Schooled Contract set the ball rolling but ,his was a poor performance. He ran off several times at the first brush, and then was tried in the jumping ring, after which he refused the open pony hurdles. Grampian managed the four hurdles very •well. He has had some education in his trainer's paddock. Ho should soon make a good jumper and is to race over the brush hurdles next month.

Flashlight, who had some schooling last winter, had his first jumping since he resumed work, going over six hurdles. He should be in good order when raced next month.

Monastic, who was a disappointment when tried over country last winter, gave a proficient display over four hurdles. He has not been long in work. All the Riccarton horses are home from their holiday racing tours. The last to return were those who remained on the West Coast for the Reefton meeting, where they ran only half their programme. The jockeys C. T. Wilson, J. W. Jennings, H. W. Hibberd and M. Caddy intend making a trip to Central Otago this week to ride at the Vincent meeting on Friday and Saturday. Queensland-owned Colt

Trench Fight will not be sent to Trentham. One of his legs gave trouble while he was at Ellerslie and he has been resting since he returned home. A few months ago, a good-looking two-year-old colt by Night Raid from an Australian mare, Coot -Haraba, was sent to F. A. Roberts to be educated and ho has been a regular visitor to the tracks for light exercise. The colt, who is owned in Queensland, probably will not be raced until next season,' but ho has made good progress. He has gone back to Elderslie for a spell before taking on serious work. He may come back to Riccarton but probably he will do all his racing in Australia. Mungatoon arrived at Riccarton last week and has joined F. A. Roberts' stable. He is owned tjy Mr. W. Hoskiiig, Auckland, and he has some good form to his credit over a distance.

ENGLAND SEES DANGER STARTING-PRICE BETTING VIEWS OF SIR ABE BAILEY A suggestion that betting off the course should be made to contribute financially to the support of horseracing was made in a letter from Sir Abe Bailey, the South African racehorse owner and member of the Jockey Club, read at the Gimcrack Dinner at \ork, says an English exchange. Sir Abe, as winner with Golden Sovereign, of the Gimcrack Stakes, should have been the guest of honour. 111-health, however, prevented his being present. In his letter of regret at his enforced absence, he wrote:— "Why should not a concerted effort be made to close down startingprice betting, or make such betting Say a fair contribution to racing? Iverything should be done to encourage race-goers to attend meetings, as they benefit racing. Starting-price betting facilities encourage people to stay away from the racecourse and are not contributing enough to racing in England. In South Africa no startingprice betting is allowed, and the bookmakers are compelled to pay a small percentage on their winning bets. "Look at the entrance and forfeit money we pay in England, and then compare these figures with those of South Africa. In the Union you pay only £1 to race for £4OO or £SOO stakes. Let me say, however, that York is the one race meeting that does try to study the interest of the owners. ' As a member of the Jockey Club, Sir Abo suggested that steps should be taken to prevent the description of race meetings being broadcast all over England. "We have only to wait for the development of television, and there will be no necessity for anyone to go to race meetings at all," he added.

MATINEE TROTTING ENTRIES CLOSE TO-DAY Entries for the matinee trotting meeting to be held by the Auckland Owners, Trainers and Breeders' Association at Epsom on January 22 close at 5 p.m. .to-day with Mr. A. G. TJownes, P.O. box 248 or telephone 47-5(30. The rjicos are for maiden horses and include a two-vear-old event, one mile, trotting race, one mile and a-half, and twp for pacers, one mile and a-quarter, one being restricted to three and four-year-old horses? The entrance fee in each event is os. TE HAI COMPLETES SPELL CONSISTENCY LAST SEASON I The Ellerslie trainer It. E. Manson has reeommissioned Te Hai, who is being pottered about until he loses some of the surplus condition gained during his absence from the track. Te Hai is a light-fleshed type, but he carries a better appearance now than at any other stage of his career. Ho was not further back than fourth in 14 out of 18 starts last year, but was returned a winner on only two occasions. With a little luck his record may be more attractive this season. i ~ TROTTING FIXTURES January IB—Timaru Trotting Club. January 27, 29 —Forbnry Park Trotting Club. January 29 Trotting Club. February 3. G— Wellington Trotting Club. February 12-Canterbury Park Trotting Club. February 12, 16-Auckland Trotting Club February 19 —New Brighton trotting Club. February 2U—Kaikoura Trotting Cljb. February 20 —Wairarapa Trotting Club. March 6—lnvercargill Trotting CJub. March s—Wellington Trotting, Clnb.